Spain

Stanwell Corporation has signed a long-term offtake agreement with Spanish renewable energy developer Acciona Energia to purchase 100% of the output from the proposed Aldoga Solar Farm to power a 3 GW green hydrogen project being developed near Gladstone on the central Queensland coast.

Scientists in Spain tested PV modules under partial shading conditions, aiming to better understand the formation of performance-damaging hotspots. The study reveals a potential issue particularly affecting half-cell and bifacial modules, which may cause accelerated performance loss and is not covered by current testing/certification standards.

Spanish researchers claim to have established new measurement methods to assess the performance degradation of PV modules without the need for removing and reinstalling the tested PV modules from their operating positions. The new approach is claimed to increase productivity in PV plant quality control activities.

Western Australia-based company Carnegie Clean Energy has won a $6.3 million (USD 4 million) contract to deliver and operate a ~400 kW version of its wave energy converter off the Spanish coast by 2025.

China’s Sinopec has switched on the world’s largest solar-to-hydrogen project in Xinjiang, while India has unveiled a new plan to incentivize green hydrogen and electrolyzer production.

Researchers at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland said that chemical energy storages were needed for short and long-term balancing in every climate region, especially in the northern climates. Meanwhile, companies are moving forward with their plans to produce hydrogen in Namibia and Morocco.

Canadian investment giant Brookfield will acquire the remaining 50% stake in Spain-based renewables developer X-Elio from its joint venture partner, investment firm KKR. X-Elio has more than 500 MW of projects in development in Australia and the move from Brookfield, which is also currently looking to takeover Origin Energy, a major Australian “gentailer,” extends the ambitious company’s hold in Australia.

Iberdrola is using a springer spaniel in a solar park to smell electrical problems that could lead to power cuts. It is also using a robotic dog to detect and analyse faults in substations.

PV Hardware has become a leading solar tracker manufacturer in Australia, a market renowned for its growth, opportunities and difficulty. Pv magazine spoke to Alejandro Cantos, director of PVH for the Asia-Pacific region.

As part of net-zero targets, New South Wales transmission network owner Transgrid plans to eliminate 100% of emissions from its passenger and commercial fleets by 2030 and to accelerate that strategy will trial a next-generation electric vehicle charger developed by Spanish firm Wallbox Chargers.